Latin America is accelerating its energy transition. Investment in renewables continues to grow, with wind and solar playing an increasingly important role across the region. However, while generation capacity is expanding rapidly, transmission infrastructure is not keeping pace.
The challenge is no longer just about producing power. It is about moving it.
Across the region, grid congestion is becoming a critical constraint. Renewable projects are waiting to connect, demand is rising, and existing infrastructure is under pressure. The traditional response has been to build new transmission lines, but the reality is far more complex.
In regions such as the Andes or the Amazon rainforest, new projects can take between seven and ten years to develop. Environmental permitting, regulatory processes and social opposition all contribute to long timelines and uncertain outcomes. Even when projects move forward, the capital investment required is substantial.
At the same time, the need for capacity is immediate.
Most transmission systems still rely on conservative methods to determine line capacity. Static ratings and ambient adjusted models are designed to ensure safety, but they do not reflect actual operating conditions.
Key factors such as wind cooling are difficult to model accurately, particularly in complex environments. As a result, operators often lack visibility of the true capacity available and networks are run below their potential.
This creates an important gap between assumed capacity and actual capability.
Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) addresses this gap by replacing estimation with measurement. Instead of relying on models, it uses real-time data to determine how much capacity is available at any given moment.
At Ampacimon, this is achieved by measuring the fundamental vibration of the conductor. Accelerometers installed on live lines capture how wind and thermal effects influence conductor behaviour in real time. This provides a direct indication of cooling conditions and therefore available capacity.
This approach differs from technologies that rely on indirect measurements such as cameras or LiDAR, which can be affected by environmental conditions. By measuring the conductor itself, it is possible to obtain a more reliable and consistent view of network conditions. This shift from estimation to direct measurement provides operators with greater visibility and confidence in how their network is performing.
The impact of real-time visibility is significant.
By basing line ratings on actual conditions, DLR can unlock additional capacity on existing infrastructure. In many cases, this can mean increases of up to 40% compared with static methods.
This capacity can be accessed without building new lines, without requiring new permits and without additional environmental impact. In a region where permitting processes are often slow and complex, this represents a practical way to relieve congestion in the short term. It also allows operators to make better use of existing assets, improving overall system efficiency.
Dynamic Line Rating plays an important role in supporting renewable energy integration.
By increasing available capacity, it enables more renewable power to be transported across the network, reducing curtailment during peak generation periods. This improves the economics of renewable projects and supports continued investment.
DLR also provides operational benefits. Real-time visibility allows grid operators to make more informed dispatch decisions and respond to changing conditions more effectively. During outages, DLR can enable higher loading on remaining lines while staying within safe limits. This helps maintain system stability and reduces the risk of cascading failures.
One of the key advantages of DLR is its flexibility.
Unlike new transmission projects, which require significant capital investment and long development timelines, DLR can be deployed relatively quickly. It allows utilities to address immediate constraints while maintaining the option to invest in new infrastructure later.
From a financial perspective, this makes it a ‘least regrets’ strategy. It helps defer large capital expenditure while still delivering value today, reducing risk in an uncertain environment.
As the energy transition accelerates, transmission systems are under increasing pressure. While new infrastructure will always be part of the solution, it cannot be the only answer.
In many cases, the fastest way to increase capacity is not to build more, but to use what already exists more effectively.
Dynamic Line Rating provides a practical way to do this. By moving from conservative assumptions to real-time data, it enables better decision-making, improves asset utilisation and helps unlock capacity where it is needed most.
The conclusion is straightforward. We cannot rely on building new lines alone. The grid must also be operated more intelligently, with greater visibility and certainty. DLR is a key step in that direction.
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